Surface covering and method



Dec. 28 1926. v R 16,510

c" H UMPHREYL-J SURFACE COVERING AND METHOD OF DECORATING THE SAME Original Filed June 5', 1924 ,2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 28,1926. I Re. 16.510

0. F. HUMPHREYS SURFACE COVERING AND METHOD OF DECORATING THE SAME o i Filed June 3, 1924 2 Sheets- Sh'ee t 2 Reissuecl Dec; 28, 1926.

CHARLES E. HUMPHREYS. OF LANCASTER.

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO ARMSTRONG CORK COMPANY; A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SURFACE COVERING AND METHOD OF DECORATING THE SAME.

Original No. 1.520.130, dated December 23. 1924.

16,250, dated January 12, 1826, Serial No.

Serial No. 717,658, fi1ed June 3, 1924. Reissue No.

73,930. filed December 7,71925. This application for reissue filed November 15, 1926. Serial No. 148,592.

The invention relates to coverings for surfaces, and has as an ob cct the provision of a covering fo' :1 floor or wall which shall simulate variegated tiles.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a' linoleum or wall paper having its surface decoration formed of units arranged according .to a uniform pattern, the unitsvarying in appearance among themselves and made up of a limited number of like appearances, the surfaces of similar ,appearances being placed with a studied nonuniforinity.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a floor or wall covering having 7 its surface decorated with spaces arranged according to a definite pattern and comprismg a hunted number of varying appearances. the indivldual spaces of like appearance-bein'g arranged with studied non-uni formity and the actualoccurrence thereof being repeated over surfaces so large as to be not encompassed by a glance of the eye.

Other objects of this embodiment are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

cFigure 1 is a plan View of the covering made up of square surfaces;

Figure 2 is a like view of a covering made up of rectangular surfaces twice as long as wide. t

As shoivm'higure 1 represents a strip of linoleum or oil cloth or wall covering made up of a series of squares separated by joints 10.

The squares shown in the figure comprise three varieties of appearances, that of ll represented oy horizontal lines, that of 12 represented by diagonal lines, andthat of 13 represented by vertical lines.

As shown, the squares of appearance 11, 12 and 13. are arranged with studied nonuniformity so as to present a earancc. It is the intention that there shall 0 not only no pattern of any uniformity but that the actual arrangement which occurs shall not be repeated within a space which the eye can grasp at a single glance.

The minimum size of such repeat areas vor spaces varies with the size, arrangement and color'of the tile-like units. In general, the smaller the individual tile-like units,

haphazard apthe smaller the areas over which the arrangement is repeated. and the larger the units and the-more striking their appearance, the larger the areas necessary, in order that the repeat be not readily apparent to the eye.

It will be understood thatthe statement of the space that can be encompassed by the eye of an observer is illustrative merely, and that the size of this space will obviously vary with individuals'as modified by condition of vision, and will also be affected by the distance and angle from which the surface is viewed.

It is found thatthe space which can be appreciated by the eye of an observer is substantially the length of four feet. and since linoleum is usually made in widths of six feet, the arrangement that could extend the width'of the linoleum will be safely beyond any possibility of observance of repetition by the eye of an observen when laid con tiguous to a like strip.

While it has been found that if there is .no uniformity over a space of, say,'four feet, and throughout a width of linoleum of six feet, the eye will not detect the repetition even with tile-like units of considerable size, nevertheless, the area of the pattern which is repeated may be considerably smaller, particularly if the tile-like units be small and are of shades of the saine general c'olor, without the repeat being apparent to the eye of the average observer.

In the manufacture of linoleum or of wall paper, an arrangement has been studied out which shall extend to'at least the distance of four feet, as for instance, to the point 14 on Figure 1 of the drawing after which the actual arrangement of the surfaces may be repeated. machinery a strip of material of indefinite length with a repetition of arrangement and secure a covering which may be placed upon a floor orwall and which will surely give the appearance of having been placed at haphazard.

The principle of Figure 1 is shown in Figure 2 as applied .to a design of different shaped surfaces, ,manner.

In Figure 2 the'repetition of the ai'rangemcnt will he found to begin at 15 and to It is thus possible to produce by l but is applied in the same 

